Chapter 2 Flashcards
List six reasons why the state might intervene in a country’s economy by providing benefits. [1.5]
June 2020; Q2 (i)
- Redistribution
- Market failures
- Efficiency
- Inertia
- External pressure
- Moral hazard and vested interests
The government of Parthia wishes to encourage savings through employer-sponsored pension
funds. They currently offer no incentives to do so.
i. Explain what a behavioural incentive is, why it may be preferable to a traditional tax
incentive and provide an example other than automatic enrolment.
[2.5]
ASSA J2020; Q7(i)
ASSA J2020; Q7(i)
Behavioural incentives use principles of behavioural theory rather than financial incentives to encourage an outcome. [1]
It is preferable because:
* It can be simpler to implement and understand ✓✓
* Higher Participation Rates ✓
* It is typically cheaper ✓
* It works better ✓. For instance, defaults and nudges can help overcome procrastination or inertia✓, which are common barriers to beneficial behavior✓.
Example: changes to default options, nudges or reminders ✓✓
Define the term “consumption smoothing”. [1]
Consumption smoothing is about ensuring adequate access✓ to goods and services✓ as needed, including the ability to withstand shocks✓, such as health crises✓.
List reasons why a person may be unable to support themselves through working and earning a wage. [2]
Temporary sickness or injury ✓✓ Permanent disability ✓
Unemployment ✓
Too young to work ✓
Studying ✓
Caring for children or relatives ✓
Old age ✓
What are the two main tools individuals can use to smooth consumption, and provide an example of each. [4]
The first is by pooling their risks with others.✓✓ A classic critical illness (CI) policy✓✓ can be regarded as a vehicle facilitating pooling, where each insured individual pays premiums into the pool✓, and those who experience a critical illness event receive payments from the pool✓.
The second tool is through saving✓✓, where individuals reduce their consumption in good times✓, and save up resources✓ to ensure that their consumption does not need to fall too drastically when times are bad✓. A classic retirement fund✓✓ can be regarded as a savings vehicle, facilitating asset-based reallocations✓✓ that shift resources from periods when individuals can still work✓ to when they can no longer work due to old age✓.
When is pooling more efficient? [1.5]
In general, pooling is a more efficient way of smoothing consumption when:
* the probability of adverse experience is small✓✓ and
* the correlations between the risks occurring to individuals are low✓✓.
If the probability of adverse experience is large, or the correlation of risks across individuals is high, then pooling becomes less efficient than saving.✓✓
List the three main reasons for saving. [0.75]
- Consumption smoothing
- Precautionary saving
- Bequest motives
Define the term “Primary Care”. [3.5]
Primary care health professionals act as a first point of consultation✓ for all patients✓. Such a professional would usually be one of the following:
* A primary care physician✓, such as a general practitioner or family physician✓
* A licensed, independent allied healthcare provider✓, such as a physiotherapist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, or dietician.✓✓
* A non-physician primary care provider✓, or mid-level provider✓, such as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.✓
Primary care health providers see a wide range of cases✓ and provide generalist care✓, typically in an out-patient setting✓. Depending on the nature of the health condition, patients may then be referred for higher levels of care.✓
Primary care is typically comprehensive✓ and includes preventative care✓ and chronic disease management✓.
Define the term “Secondary Care”. [3]
Secondary care refers to the healthcare services provided by medical specialists✓ and other health professionals✓, for example, cardiologists, urologists, and dermatologists✓✓✓. It includes acute care and skilled attendance during childbirth, intensive care, and medical imaging services.✓✓✓✓
Secondary care may be provided in or out of hospital.✓✓ In some countries, patients may be required to see a primary care provider for a referral before they can access secondary care,✓✓ while in others self-referral is possible.✓
Define the term “Tertiary Care”. [3.5]
Tertiary care is specialised consultative healthcare✓✓, usually on an in-patient basis✓ and referral from a primary or secondary health professional✓✓, in a facility that has personnel and facilities✓✓ for advanced medical investigation and treatment✓✓, such as a tertiary referral hospital or academic hospital✓✓. Examples of tertiary care services are cancer management, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery, treatment for severe burns, advanced neonatology services, palliative care, and other complex medical and surgical interventions.✓✓✓✓
Define the term “quaternary care”. [0.5]
Quaternary facilities deal with very rare cases and experimental treatments.
Describe the locations in which the different levels of HC servives are provided. [2]
Primary healthcare is usually available at local community level✓, so that people do not have to travel far✓ to have their basic healthcare needs met.
Secondary facilities tend to be found in urban areas only✓.
Tertiary facilities may only be found in major metropolitan areas✓ where they may be linked to a medical school✓. Even in a major metropolitan area there might be only one or two facilities✓.
Quaternary facilities are centres of excellence✓; therefore, there may be only one quaternary facility in a country✓, or on an entire continent✓, that specialises in a condition✓.
Describe the factors which will determine how much an individual will need to fund their consumption in retirement. [6]
- The individual’s steady-state consumption level✓✓. Individuals who have become used to a certain standard of living may find it difficult to adjust to a lower consumption level after they have retired✓.
- How consumption patterns are likely to change as people get older✓✓.
- The uncertainty in consumption streams✓✓. Some payments—such as daily expenses✓—are certain while others—such as major medical expenses✓—are less predictable. These unpredictable payments can be made more predictable by using insurance✓, or through public provision of services✓, such as healthcare and long-term care✓.
Healthcare plans, may not cover all costs✓. Planning for out-of-pocket medical expenses is critical✓. - Investment Returns✓: The performance of your investments will impact how much you need to save. A higher return on investments can reduce the amount you need to save✓, while lower returns might increase it✓.
- Debt and Financial Obligations✓: Any remaining debt, such as mortgages or loans, and other financial obligations, such as supporting family members✓, will affect how much you need to save for retirement.
- Housing Costs✓: Whether you own your home outright or have a mortgage, housing costs (including property taxes, maintenance, and utilities)✓✓ need to be considered. Some may also plan to downsize or relocate to reduce these expenses✓✓.
- The timing of these payments✓. This involves predicting an individual’s retirement age✓, their expected lifespan✓, and the needs of their dependants✓.
- Once these expected cashflows have been estimated✓, they can be discounted✓ to calculate a present value of the accumulation required at retirement to fund consumption in retirement✓.
List the different behavioural biases.[2.5]
- Myopia ✓
- Loss aversion or prospect theory ✓✓
- Sunk cost fallacy ✓
- Hyperbolic discounting ✓
- The availability heuristic ✓
- Hindsight bias and law of small numbers ✓✓
- Framing effects ✓
- Complexity avoidance ✓
- Inertia ✓
List the main providers of healthcare. [2]
- Doctors ✓
- Nurses ✓
- Support medical personnel and clinical associates✓✓ (also known as allied health providers)✓
- Hospitals ✓
- Upstream service providers✓
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers✓
- Medicine distributers✓
- Suppliers of medical equipment✓